Hello again, readers!
Jeez, it's been so long since I last updated, I'm so sorry! Ugh, school has been eating up all my time and energy this year.
But I just wanted to assure you not to worry, for I have not lost inspiration for this story! In fact, I've recently come up with a bunch of new ideas I hope to dish out into content in the future of this story.
I'm not quite sure yet how long I want it to be... but I know I want the story to be fast-paced with a sense of depth to it. Does that make any sense?
I'm losing my train of thought here, so I'll just let you get to the story. XD
~Nb
Chapter 4: The Enemy of My Enemy
(Is Not My Friend)
…
The room was dark, solemn. Quiet.
Lunar glow was the only light filtering in through the apartment's bedroom window, giving everything in the room a soft, light blue color to it. The coolness in the air only added to the pressing feeling of a lack of presence in the apartment other than the single, armored figure standing at the glass, staring out over the busy streets below.
In the city, even nights were no exception for vehicle traffic.
On the streets overlooked by the apartment, they were surely chaotic and full of angered, tired human beings but from Genji's point of view, it had a sort of peaceful serenity to it.
It had the presence of a soothing voice, giving Genji permission to finally close his eyes for more than a split second before having to open them again.
He could be at peace here. In his humble apartment home near the top of the towering apartment complex.
This was all due in part to Angela who helped him with everything from helping him gain citizenship at much less difficulty than most immigrants from outside America. Not to mention, gained him a job in Overwatch to help him pay for rent and much more, as well as provided him with a sort of air-cleansing life support system that would allow him to take his armor off and actually sleep like a normal person.
And even all of that paled in comparison to the fact that she gave him a new life. She saved him when he was broken and disowned by his brother and his entire clan as a whole. She gave him something to live for again, a new family, Angela practically was his everything at this point.
Genji's eyes slowly shut in remorse and he reached up to click the button under the jawline of his mask, the mask plate sliding up with the swift sound of rotating metal in his helmet. He then touched behind the base of his skull and pressed the button at the top of the spine support column built into the back of the suit, necessary for him to remain mobility. Some air released from his helmet in two sharp puffs of white gas before the helmet came off his head with the motions of his fingertips, the spherical hunk of armor falling into his palms upon leaving his skull.
He stared down at it, the slashes and scars on his light-colored complexion revealed along with the burning rings of amber that were his eyes, his lips drying upon making contact with the outside air but quickly moistening at the effect of the high tech air-cleanser at his bedside.
His eyes locked with the soulless visor of his helmet for the longest time before he shut them solemnly.
"…"
But he couldn't love Angela. He wouldn't put her through that. Even during a time of peace, tomorrow isn't guaranteed for anyone, especially for a man with a constant state of physical instability like Genji.
His cards in life were dealt for him and he ended up with a terrible hand to play. But he had to play it, even if he lost in the end of the game called 'living.'
It wasn't fair for him to let Angela bet all she had on Genji and expect a victory at the end. It wasn't fair, and furthermore it wasn't right. She deserved better than him, someone to be able to hold her hand and her be able to feel the equal smoothness and warmth of flesh caressing her own.
Not cold, dead metal encasing flesh that would probably die off if it made contact with her own.
He shook his head of that thought, knowing better than to belittle the gift that this suit was for him. The suit made him better, it helped him find tranquility in Nepal with Master Zenyatta. It was a blessing…
But it didn't change who he was around everyone else. A robot.
"A robot," he repeated to himself out loud as he started to remove each and every piece of his armor to reveal more and more of the scarred, beaten flesh beneath.
Genji hadn't been thrown back into the fight in two years. So why hadn't these wounds healed yet?
He finally looked up from the visor of his helmet into the eyes of the man that appeared in the window's reflection. The still warm, amber eyes that matched his own.
And upon seeing the man again that was once hidden behind his armor, the same man who would be hidden again when he awoke the next morning, he realized the reason his wounds remained, the reason he just wouldn't heal no matter what.
Because he hadn't let them go yet. Even after several years of reflection in the mountains of Nepal, scars and old wounds still marked his past.
Which meant the last step to Genji's life was letting go of his past and accepting the unpredictability of the future.
"That is why I am so passionate about this case, Angela…" he muttered his thoughts, as if Angela were in the room with him.
He turned back to his bed and set the helmet down on the end table where his lamp was.
"Because this may be my last chance at letting go of the past."
The rather quiet hallway of the Overwatch headquarters underground the city rang with the sounds of mechanical boots clicking against the sleek, clean floor as Genji quickly made his way to the Interrogation Room. His armor concealed every firm, straightened limb and muscle of his body, the determination in his expression, and most of all the renewed fire in his eyes to fight this ghost of the past that was coming back to haunt him
He was up early this morning, gathering his thoughts and preparing himself for the next mind game that Amelie was certain to play on him this morning.
The first round yesterday was his victory. It would be a cold day in Hell, if he was going to give her the second round today.
Genji looked up at a nearby analogue clock on the wall to read the time. 7:15, right on schedule. And as he expected, he heard an automated voice suddenly bellow through the speakers in the ceiling of the facility, "Genji Shimada, please report to Interrogation. Genji Shimada, to Interrogation."
Picking up the speed in his walk, he made his way to where he already knew his destination would be.
Or at least where it should have been, before Angela suddenly whipped out of her personal office in front of Genji to stop him, small, pale hand against his metal chest, "Genji. You need to see this. The bombing at the church is being addressed on the news right now."
Genji almost full-on ran into her but he was able to stop himself from walking in time, allowing her to remove her hand from his chest, "What? They're just now addressing it?"
She shook her head, "It's been all over the news, but the police is just now releasing what information they've found."
Genji's eyes almost bugged out of his skull at that, "Does anyone else know that Overwatch is involved?!"
Angela bit her lip uncertainly, "I can't say for sure, the government knows of Overwatch's involvement but the public is still just theorizing. For now, our benefactors are still denying any association."
"In other words, we have to rely on the hope that the world government doesn't stab us in the back because they think we are involved?"
She didn't reply at first, glancing away for a mere moment to gather her words before looking back up at him and nodding slowly, "To put it bluntly… yes."
Genji suddenly heard the news on the TV in Angela's office behind her. A loud, male voice announced in a firm tone, "We are now going to our live broadcast at the New York City courthouse with the press conference being held by Governor Emma Liu."
He and Angela only had to pass a glance at each other to know they were thinking the same thing and nodded, both heading into the room to watch the governor's address on the matter at hand.
The scene on the TV changed to a view of the press conference, Governor Liu at the front of the room, dressed in a navy blue suit jacket, white button up underneath and a simple, matching skirt that ended below her knee. Her make-up was done on thick today, unlike how she usually looked at press conferences, likely trying to hide bags under her eyes from two sleepless nights of preparing for this press conference covering the apparent terrorist attack by Widowmaker.
But considering nobody outside of those directly related to the Overwatch program knew that the Widowmaker was behind the terrorist attack, Genji couldn't help but wonder what this press conference was supposed to be for.
Cameras flashed throughout the room, Governor Liu being guarded by several large, black-suited men with sunglasses. The Governor held a stoic look on her face as she cleared her throat and began her short address into the mic, "Thank you all for coming today. I have gathered this press conference in light of the recent terrorist attack at the Church of Saint Morrow on 5th Avenue…" she paused.
Genji watched closely, his arms crossed and his eyes narrow as he stared at the screen.
The governor gave a distressed sigh, "Unfortunately, we have no leads as to who the culprit behind the bombing could possibly be, as there was no trace of the terrorist left behind at the crime scene. At this point, we can only assume that the terrorist behind this violent attack was taken in the blast just like all of their victims, and being closest to the blast may have just rendered their body impossible to identify. So until further evidence is brought forth, the most likely cause behind this horrible tragedy was a suicide bombing in protest."
That was a lie.
"And once you take into consideration that many of the victims that were taken by the blast were Omnic, when in fact there is a rift between humans and Omnics alike going on worldwide, it seems very likely that the root cause of this protest bombing derived from an unknown Anti-Omnic Extremist."
… A good lie.
"With this possibility matching up with all the evidence at the crime scene, I think it's safe for everyone to rest easy and know these are not the acts of a malevolent terrorist group. This was a tragedy that took many innocent lives that we will act to ensure never happens again," she looked down with remorse, "And my sympathies go out to the families of every victim taken in the bombing. A ceremony has already been planned to honor the victims of the tragedy at the city hall."
She looked back up again.
"Now I will answer any questions you may have."
Instantly, a hand shot up in the crowd, "Governor Liu! Rumors are spiraling around that the bombing was related to the disbanded Overwatch group many years ago. Can you shed some light on that?"
The Governor frowned a bit, "There is no proof or evidence that it has any correlation with the Overwatch program; the program was shut down years ago and there are no existing threats regarding Overwatch."
Genji's eyes narrowed at noticing a knot shifting down the older woman's throat, reaching down to take a glass of water she had on the flat top of her podium and sipped from it to wash it down.
She showed no signs of dishonesty to an untrained eye but from the view of someone who knew she was lying, she was being a bit too obvious for comfort. It was evident that she was not used to lying to the public's face, honesty is what got her to her position as governor. Or at least that's what he had heard.
Angela let out a short sigh of relief, "Thank goodness. It seems the government is still on our side, on this one."
He glanced at her and then back up at the screen, "Maybe so. But the public is not on our side with all these conspiracies hovering around. Watch closely… here come all the questions."
Another hand shot up and the young woman to whom the arm belonged to immediately added on, "Actually, ma'am, there is in fact written record of a wedding taking place at the church the night of the bombing, and according to the names on guest list, there were ex-Overwatch agents present at Saint Morrow's when the bombing took place. With that being factual evidence, do you have any comments addressing that?"
And with that being stated, yet another question broke out and then another, "Is the government funding to rebuild the Overwatch program?"
Governor Liu shook her head sternly, "No."
"Were the ex-Overwatch agents targets of the attack on Saint Morrow's?"
"No, there isn't enough evidence to support that," Governor Liu denied again.
"Are you denying evidence of the investigation?!"
Immediately, a flurry of questions and arguing sparked among the crowd of press reporters and the governor took a deep breath and took a long drink of her water, leaning forward to announce one last time, "I will state one last time on this ridiculous conspiracy of Overwatch's return, of any sort… Overwatch has nothing to do with—"
She was cut off when her voice suddenly caught in her throat and her eyes rolled back in her skull, slumping backwards until she collapsed onto the floor behind the podium unconscious.
Gasps erupted across the room and everyone in the audience of press stood up, effectively blocking the camera's view of the down governor.
Angela's pupils visibly shrunk at watching the governor fall and Genji was equally shocked, his arms instantly uncrossing and stepping forward as if he were actually there, trying to get a closer look.
"My God…" she whispered.
The screen became fuzzy and gray before suddenly flickering to a screen of a black room, the camera zoomed in on an unidentifiable figure standing alone with nothing in the background behind them. Just an ominous darkness.
"Hello, attentive viewers. Whether you were watching your broadcasted program via television or internet, you will have witnessed the death of Governor Liu live mere seconds ago. Your regularly scheduled program shall continue uninterrupted after this very… very important announcement," the figure spoke in an echoing, droning voice.
Angela turned around, fear and uncertainty in her eyes as she stared out the door of her office, "The audio of the broadcast is playing on the speakers outside!"
Genji turned tail and ran out into the hallway to look up at the ceiling speakers that stretched down the length of the hall each about five yards away from one another.
Sure enough, the audio from the broadcast was being transmitted throughout the entire Overwatch base and sent a rather unsettling rumble echoing through the underground building:
"All the information your world government is feeding you with is lies. In times like these, the government can't trust anyone with what they know. And in turn, you simply cannot trust them either."
He turned back to the TV screen in the other room where Angela was still watching attentively.
"But that's just fine. You all know who you can or cannot trust… that's not what I've interrupted your scheduled program for," they leaned forward visibly, but not enough to identify any distinguishing features on their face or body, "I'm here to expose a secret the government has kept from you for two, long years."
Suddenly, the screen flickered again to a photo taken from a rather high altitude angle, the picture clearly showing Genji clad in his armor turned toward the burning, post-explosion rubble of the church two nights ago from atop a nearby building's rooftop. Widowmaker was not even present in the photo which made the picture look even more controversial.
Just seeing the photo drained whatever color either Angela or Genji had left in their faces.
"This is an Overwatch agent, present on the night of the explosion," the droning voice deadpanned.
A deathly silence settled over the entire Overwatch base.
"Many of you may doubt my accusation, some may even doubt the picture I show you now. Whether or not that's the case, allow me to incriminate the Overwatch agent in this photo," the picture flickered to another picture taken of Genji's classified Overwatch file.
Genji's hand covered the metal plate over his mouth in disbelief, "No… that's not possible. There's no way."
All of Genji's classified information. Displayed live for the entire world to see.
"This agent's name is Genji Shimada. He is part of the revived Overwatch team that was denied by the government and thought only to be a conspiracy. But as you can see, this is no longer just some conspiracy. This threat is real," the screen flickered back to the dark figure, "The rumors are true, the bombing at the church in New York two nights ago was a secret, coordinated attack by Overwatch to give you all a reason to want them back. To create a fake enemy that you will think only Overwatch will be able to fight back. To give you all a reason to believe their lies and let them break the fragile laws you all stand on so shakily."
Angela shook her head, "That's not true! They can't actually believe that you had anything to do with the bombing, can they? Overwatch was made to fight for the law and for justice to begin with!"
"Maybe they don't…" Genji walked over to pull up a nearby chair and sit down so he could steady himself, "… Maybe they're using this information and blowing it up into something bigger. Using lies to cause distrust, anarchy. Or worse."
"People of the world, you're walking on thin ice that your authorities claim, boldly, is safe. How long will you continue to walk atop this foundation of secrets and lies before the ice cracks?" they leaned forward and grabbed the camera aggressively, causing it to shake and drawing it so close to their face that a pure-white skull mask was immediately visible, the camera shaking violently in their grasp, "No. That's not a graphic enough question to affect you. So how about this one?"
The silence settled again, Angela putting a hand over her mouth and Genji's eyebrows turned down underneath his helmet.
A gasp escaped her throat first, "No, he's been killed two times now. There's no way he's just back again."
"Gabriel Reyes. Reaper," Genji barked out.
"Even when the ice cracks beneath your feet, people of the world… Even when the lies you call law and order crumble beneath your feet and shatter. How many of you are going to keep walking like nothing is wrong?"
Genji could feel a cold shiver run up his spine at the figure's words. If such a simple question even drew a reaction like that out of Genji, he could only imagine how it would affect half the world watching this too.
"Before the government disrupts this broadcast to keep me from revealing too much… I prompt you to rise up. Ask your authorities the bigger questions. Let me guarantee ahead of time, they'll deny everything you ask them. Because they're all damnable cowards!" the unknown figure reached past the camera, audibly starting to type something down behind the camera, "So just for those who aren't quite on board yet, look at these photos! Burn them into your memory and know those who have betrayed your trust, the ones who are conspiring against you to earn your commitment before they can wrap their cold fingers around you in an iron fist, inescapable upon the moment you realize you're being controlled!"
They looked into the camera with eyes burning like hot coals, "Remember the villains named: Overwatch."
The broadcast cut at that final statement, the screen switching to a slideshow of different photographs taken of every classified file of every Overwatch agent that was recruited two years ago. All of their codenames were labeled at the tops of the files in bold, red letters.
Ana. Tracer. Lucio. Winston. Mercy. Reinhardt. Torbjorn. McCree. And the names went on from there further…
Angela shook her head in disbelief, "This can't be happening. It's all just one big, terrible nightmare."
Genji looked around desperately, growling out in anger, "They need to cut it off before he can expose anyone else! Who knows what other classified information he might have at his disposal?!"
The screen started to flicker and distort before breaking to gray static on the television. And more than likely that was what everyone viewing the broadcast was seeing right now too.
It was a small comfort however. Everything was just revealed to the public. Every private record, every classified file that the Overwatch program had on its field agents. All of it now public information.
"It's over… The government will shut us down, for sure. The people's trust is too important for them to keep us around at this rate," she sat down at her desk drearily, "We're done for, aren't we? Gabriel played us on this one…" she buried her face in her palms.
Genji stared at the floor, his chest burning with rage as the dragon within him would not let him lose this battle without a fight, "He hasn't played us yet. We still have a chance."
"Genji, we can't—"
"No! Listen, don't you think all of this just seems a bit too coincidental? In fact, it's so coincidental that it's convenient for us."
Angela listened with a skeptical expression.
Genji held up his index finger to emphasize his point, "First, the attack at the church happens, obviously targeted at us, Overwatch, the only ones capable of identifying the terrorist group that we've disbanded multiple times now, Talon. Second, we find out that said attacker is in fact an ex-Talon agent who practically let herself fall into our custody. Then third, she denies any accusation we make of her possibly just being a decoy controlled by someone with power. Influence. Up until the Governor of New York was murdered on live broadcast and Reyes revealed himself in his own broadcast. All of it, I think, ties together in the most subtle way…"
A glare slipped across his expression as he glanced out the door of the office, "… Like a web of lies."
The Swiss doctor's eyes widened at what he was insinuating, "You think Widowmaker knows something?"
"I'd bet my life on it," Genji immediately replied, "And I'd also bet that she's going to be a lot more cooperative with our interrogation now that Reyes' broadcast hijacked every speaker in the base. She's involved in all of this somehow and I'm getting to the bottom of it."
Angela smiled timidly, "Genji… what if nothing changes? What if this is all some big coincidence? Then again, what if it isn't. What will it change? Overwatch's very existence is in danger now. Don't bet your life, don't bet anything on a cause that is lost, it's just going to make things worse for you in the end."
He shook his head in response, "You wouldn't understand, some things are worth betting on, no matter the conclusion."
"Genji!" she exclaimed defiantly, stepping closer and reaching a hand up to touch him before his hand gently caught her wrist. Her eyes widened a bit in confusion.
"Don't," he droned out quietly.
"Doctor Ziegler, if things take a turn for the worse," his eyes trailed down to the floor, "Go back to wherever you consider your home to be and don't look back. If everything goes to hell because of this, I don't want you caught in the political crossfire."
She frowned, looking down at her clenched fist held in his grasp before finally her wrist loosened and he allowed her to simply hold it there in front of him, "This is my home, Genji. Overwatch is my home. That's what you don't understand…" she whispered.
Genji didn't reply for a long moment, as if pondering his words.
Her eyes stayed locked on his face, waiting for something. A witty comeback, a disregarding remark. Anything to ruin their seemingly fragile friendship, at this point.
"Then I am sorry… from the bottom of my human heart for whatever may happen next."
With that, he let go of her wrist and turned on one heel to head to Solitary Confinement, where Angela knew he'd be going. She looked down and slowly reached up to cover her face with her palms, breathing out between her slender fingers at knowing the days to come would just become more and more difficult.
Especially with the possibility of Overwatch being disbanded before they could even face this new threat.
Amelie lie on her back within the white, lonesome room of her cell, cuffed wrists crossed behind her head and hands cupping the base of her skull to prop her head up comfortably, her feet propped up on the wall. She hummed an old tune to herself and watched her toes curl and twist to the rhythm she whistled out.
Her tune only stopped at the sound of the door sliding open and then immediately snapping shut again, her wrists slipping out from under her head so she could glance back at whoever just entered her cell from her upside-down view.
Genji stood over top of her, arms crossed sternly, "Ready to start talking?"
Amelie smirked amusedly, "About what?"
He growled in response, "I have little patience for your games today, Miss Lacroix, you know what I'm talking about."
She curled her legs up into herself acrobatically and rolled back onto her feet to hop up into standing position, twisting around to look up at him, "What is there to speak of, dear? You heard the rather strange terrorist, did you not? I can't tell you anymore than what he said."
"I know that the terrorist is Reyes, Amelie, I told you to knock off the mind games."
"Reyes? Gabriel? What makes you think it's him?" she asked with a quirked brow.
Genji stared her down with an emotionless gaze behind the glowing visor that hid his golden irises, "Toward the end of the broadcast, he revealed his mask. It was identical to the one that Reyes used as Reaper when he attempted to harness the power of the Doom Fist two years ago."
The Widowmaker gave an amused chortle, "Gabriel is dead."
"Wouldn't be the first time he's been dead. What's to stop him from coming back a second time, we still don't know how he came back the first time."
Amelie tilted her head a bit and gave a pouty look, one a mother would give to an ignorant child, "You poor thing. Well, I'm sorry, sweetheart, but I'm afraid even if Gabriel did come back, that simply wasn't him that hijacked your base."
Genji's arms instantly uncrossed and he pointed a finger in her face, "Do not speak to me as if I am a fool! I know you're hiding something!"
She stepped closer, causing Genji to withdraw his finger as he was uncertain of what she might attempt to do.
Within a fraction of a second, their faces were mere inches apart and Amelie blew her hot breath against the flawless steel of Genji's mask, "Mmm, you know you're my favorite cyborg, don't you?"
In a flash, Genji's hand was wrapped tight around Amelie's slim neck and hoisting her off her feet to slam her back against the wall, causing her feet to kick at the air limply as he pressed her back against the wall by her throat, pressing his palm in to choke her harder with each passing second, "The lives of the people I love may be in danger. And as much as I want to be civil with you, as much as I want to save you from whomever has brainwashed you from who you once were… I will not stand idly by while you pointlessly stall for time that neither of us have right now."
Amelie gasped for air, wincing at the pressure on her throat. But despite the uncomfortable position that Genji had her in, it didn't keep her from shooting him a sly simper, "I can only—" she coughed, "—answer your question, if you ask me something I know…"
He glared angrily, "Fine. Do you know who the terrorist broadcaster is, if it's not Gabriel Reyes?"
She let out a choked laugh, "I don't know who they are personally, no. But I've met them once," she coughed again, but Genji's grip was loosening so she was at least able to receive some air into her lungs.
"Where are they, and how can I find them?" Genji deadpanned.
At that, Amelie peered down at him, her chin pressing into one of his metallic knuckles as she replied, "Why don't you start by checking who has been within your own numbers?"
Genji's eyes widened a bit in response, his hand finally releasing from her neck so she could fall back to her feet, and then from her feet to her knees, coughing and sputtering as she caught her breath.
"A double-agent in Overwatch? It seems unlikely, but… I guess anything is possible," he stated in a monotone.
Amelie chuckled dryly because of her now rather sore throat, "You really know how to treat a lady, you know that?"
He looked down at her and replied in a stern tone, "If I find out this is just another one of your games, Amelie, I will be back. You understand that, yes?"
She smirked playfully and sat back so her shoulder blades pressed against the firm surface of the wall behind her, her hand touching her own throat to ease the pain of her throat away, "You'll be back. Not for that, but you'll be back. We both know that, Shimada."
Genji turned to walk back to the cell door with a stride in his step, as he now had a new goal in mind to accomplish before the government could even think about shutting down Overwatch.
"Genji." Amelie suddenly stated aloud.
His fingers were centimeters away from touching against the hand scanner that was required to open the door from this side of her cell when he stopped and glanced back at her without a response.
There was no smirk playing her lips. No challenging glimmer in her yellow irises. Just a blank, emotionless glance, staring up at him through the tension that suddenly settled between them, "You keep reminding me of how much I've changed from how you remember me. But if you take a long look in the mirror at yourself… You won't find the man I once knew either."
Genji looked back down at the hand scanner silently.
"You've changed, Genji. But why have you changed?"
Again, no response.
Amelie blinked quietly, her long eyelashes fanning against one another before merely asking, "It was the Omnic, wasn't it?"
Genji's gaze shot back at her again, confirming her suspicions.
With a light, disappointed chuckle, she muttered, "You really are just a robot."
He stepped back from the scanner suddenly, his fingers lifting from the pad as his vision started to blur and fade into a whirl of images, "Ngh…" he mumbled as his world shifted and spun around him, his hand instinctively reaching up to hold his head as if that would steady the oncoming dizziness.
"You really are just a robot." Her words rang through his skull in an unprecedented way, over and over again.
Amelie stared on with an ominous lack of surprise in her expression as Genji turned around and slumped to his knees before falling flat on his face, the blurring images fading into each other before his eyelids shifted towards one another into thin slits.
Until all he could see, all he could feel was a veil of cold darkness.
"You really are just a robot."
Amelie held Genji's head in her lap, his helmet removed and set aside as she ran her fingers through his thick, black locks of hair.
She continued to hum her tune from earlier as Genji slept in his unconscious state.
He had been there for at least an hour now, which meant that somebody would soon be sent down to Solitary Confinement to retrieve him from his absence. They would take him away from her. They may even attack her upon finding him unconscious in her lap.
But that didn't matter. When he was sleeping, Amelie could still see a twinge of humanity left in his face… a glimmer of hope that he hadn't changed like she had.
"There's still hope for you yet, Genji. You'll learn to be human again someday…" she sighed nonchalantly, "… I wish I could say I feel envious that you have that chance. But I would be lying."
Amelie looked up at hearing the sound of the door to her cell unlocking with a loud buzz in the computer system of the door. Her fingers ran down Genji's cheek affectionately as she spoke to him in his sleep.
"I can't feel anything at all."
…
Well, I tried to give a light-hearted ending to this chapter, but I'm not sure if that's what you would classify as "light-hearted."
But that's okay, I plan to have some more fluffy moments between the main cast soon enough. :)
So, in the spirit of trying new things, I've decided to take a suggestion from one of my guest reviewers: I'm going to reply to my guest reviews!
Kitty-toes: Thanks for the suggestion to reply to my guest reviews too, I definitely appreciate the suggestion! Also, your review sort of correlated with the idea I had for this chapter, with the mention of a media reaction and what-not, which is pretty neat! *gives a thumbs up* Thanks for you continued support btw, it's appreciated more than you know. Hope the world of this story seems a little less narrow now!
timtbow: Thank you for your consistent reviews, I'm so glad you're enjoying the story! ^^
And to all the unnamed guests: I appreciate all of you taking time out of your day to review, and I hope you continue to read and enjoy what I write!
That should be it for now, readers, lots of thanks for reading. See you next time (hopefully next time will be much sooner than this one)!
~Nb
